Punch unit

ABSTRACT

A unit for pre-piercing sheets of corrugate roofing and siding to permit both proper positioning and safe and convenient driving of the mounting nails. The unit includes a base having on its lower surface orienting corrugations which correspond in general size and configuration to the corrugations or ribs in the sheet material. The upper surface of the base is provided with a guide portion adapted to support and guide a reciprocally movable punch which is driven forwardly by a hammer blow, or the like, to pierce the sheet metal. The position of the punch relative to the orienting corrugations is such that the perforations formed in the sheet metal are located at the peak or top of the corrugations in the sheet. after this piercing operation, a nail may be driven easily and safely through the perforation and into the underlying wood support without the dangers and problems normally encountered in attempting to drive the nail through one or more layers of unperforated sheet metal.

United States Patent [191 Rockel PUNCH UNIT [76] Inventor: Lee A. Rockel, P. O. Box 421,

Dallas City, 111. 62330 22 Filed: Aug. 12, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 171,186

4/1924 Bewsick 269/1 X Primary Examiner-Othell M. Simpson Assistant ExaminerGary L. Smith Attorney-Thomas E. Frantz Dec. 11, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT A unit for pre-piercing sheets of corrugate roofing and siding to permit both proper positioning and safe and convenient driving of the mounting nails. The unit includes a base having on its lower surface orienting corrugations which correspond in general size and configuration to the corrugations or ribs in the sheet material. The upper surface of the base is provided with a guide portion adapted to support and guide a reciprocally movable punch which is driven forwardly by a hammer blow, or the like, to pierce the sheet metal. The position of the punch relative to the orienting corrugations is such that the perforations formed in the sheet metal are located at the peak or top of the corrugations in the sheet. after this piercing operation, a nail may be driven easily and safely through the perforation and into the underlying wood support without the dangers and problems normally encountered in attempting to drive the nail through one or more layers of unperforated sheet metal.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures J0 U. "will I' wmlll w lll PATENTEDDEE 11 ms 3777L399 Jrcd m 8686 311 4909566 1 PUNCH uNlr BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed toward a punch unit for use in applying corrugated, ribbed or similar sheet materials to the roof or side of a building.

Barns, sheds, cabins and other similar utility type buildings generally include a roof and/or side walls formed by a framework of wood rafters or studs adapted to support plywood or similar sheeting over which is nailed a plurality of over-lapping galvanized steel or aluminum sheets. The sheets normally are corrugated or ribbed, not only to provide increased rigidity and strength therein, but to form raised areas which are not likely to permit leakage when nails are driven therethrough for mounting purposes.

Nails used in attaching corrugated sheets usually include a relatively soft lead or plastic washer positioned under the nail head. Upon driving the nail through the sheet, the soft washer is compressed between the nail head and sheet to act as a seal around the hole formed by the nail. To further insure against the ingress of water, the nails normally are driven through the peak or highest portion of the corrugations. Thus, the valleys formed by the corrugations remain unperforated.

Particularly where sheets are overlapped, it is extremely difficult to drive the nails therethrough without striking an extremely heavy blow with the hammer. The use of such force, however, frequently causes loss in control of the hammer, resulting in a glancing blow which may deform the nail head or damage the soft washer, thereby leading to improper sealing and possible leakage, or dent or damage the roofing, or strike the fingers of the person applying the roofing. Or, in some cases, the nail may enter the sheet metal at an angle, resulting in an elongate hole which is incapable of being sealed properly by the soft washer.

As pointed out heretofore, the present invention is directed to a device which is adapted to pierce corrugated roofing conveniently, easily and safely, thus permitting the workman to start and drive the nail into place through pre-formed perforations using normal hammer blows.

' SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly one object of the present invention to provide a punch unit for perforating corrugated .or ribbed roofing, siding, or the like, for the convenient, safe and proper insertion of mounting nails.

Anotherobject of the present invention is to provide a punch unit for pre-piercing corrugated roofing or siding, the unit including orienting means which automatically positions the unit whereby the perforations are formed in the peaks of the corrugated sheet.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a punch unit which assists in properly aligning overlapping corrugated sheets preparatory to the nailing of the sheets to the underlying support.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following description.

The punch unit disclosed by the present invention includes a base portion having orienting means for assisting the user in automatically positioning the unit on the corrugated sheet prior to actuation of a piercing member or punch. n the opposite or upper side of the base portion, there is provided a guide portion adapted to support a punch having a hard sharpened pierce point at one end and an enlarged head at the other end. The punch is axially reciprocal relative to the base and guide portion between a forward position in which the pierce point extends beyond the lower surface of the base for piercing the underlying corrugated sheet or sheets, and a retracted position wherein the pierce point is withdrawn into an aperture in the base. A compression coil spring is provided to bias the punch toward the retracted position, with the spring, punch and guide portion being maintained in proper operating relationship by means of a removable element which also serves as a stop for positioning the punch in the retracted position. The forward, or extended position of the punch is defined by abutment between the guide portion and the enlarged head at the upper end of the punch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the punch unit, showing the punch in the retracted position;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the punch unit taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, the unit being shown as disposed on over-lapping sheets of corrugated material with the punch positioned in the retracted position; and

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing the punch in the extended position and the pierce point penetrating the underlying corrugated sheets.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present embodiment illustrates the corrugations as comprising alternate convex and concave curved surfaces, but it will be understood by those in the art that other configurations may be used. For example, the corrugations may be in the form of generally rectangular ribs. Accordingly, when used in the present specification and claims, it will be understood that the term corrugation is to be taken in its broadest aspect as meaning any configuration presenting in cross section a relatively uniform pattern of non-planer surfaces.

Extending from the upperside of the base 12 is a guide portion 20 which includes an upper section 22 disposed substantially parallel to the base 12. Flaring outwardly and downwardly from the edges of the upper section 22 are a pair of legs 24 which are welded or otherwise rigidly attached to the base 12 internally of the edge portions 14. It will be understood, however, that the base 12 and guide portion 20 may be cast or otherwise formed as an integral piece.

Extending transversely through the upper section 22 is an aperture 26 which is axially aligned with a second aperture 28 in the base 12. As will be readily apparent, particularly from FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawing, aperture 28 is positioned so as to intersect one of the indentations 16 of the corrugated lower surface of the base 12. The purpose of this arrangement will be described in more detail hereinafter.

A punch 30, disposed substantially perpendicular to base 12, is mounted for sliding reciprocal movement relative to and through apertures 26 and 28 between forward and rearward positions as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The punch is formed of a high grade toughened steel, with a sharpened pierce point 32 at its lower end and an enlarged head portion 34 at its upper end. Intermediate shank portion 36 of punch 30, at its lower end, tapers inwardly to the pierce point 32, and at its upper end intersects enlarged head 34. The overall length of shank portion 36 should be such that when the punch 30 is moved to the extended position (see FIG. 3), the pierce point 32 will perforate any underlying sheets of corrugated material, but preferably not penetrate the supporting wood surface or beam.

A stop member 38 is provided on the punch, the stop member consisting of a pin, or the like, which extends through the body of the punch and which preferably is removable therefrom to permit convenient replacement of the punch should it be damaged or require resharpening.

Stop member 38 serves two purposes in the present embodiment. First, it limits rearward movement of the punch (FIG. 2) as a result of abutting engagement thereof with the under side of the upper section 22. Secondly, it provides an offset or abuttment for the upper end of compression coil spring 40 which surrounds the shank 36 of punch 30. The other end of the spring 40 is positioned against the upper surface of the base 12. Thus, spring 40 continuously urges the punch 30 toward the retracted position shown in FIG. 2.

In employing the instant punch unit, the user places one or more corrugated sheets 42 on a wood deck or surface 44 which is supported by underlying beams or rafters 46. Thereafter, the punch unit is placed on the corrugated sheets 42, with the punch 30 being positioned over the point at which the workman wishes to insert a nail. Pressure on the punch unit will (1) automatically align the unti relative to the corrugations of the sheets and (2) assist in positioning and holding the sheets relative to one another during the critical piercing stage.

Thereafter, the head 34 of the punch 30 is struck with a hammer to force the punch from the retracted position (FIG. 2) to the. extended position (FIG. 3) thereby causing pierce point 32 to penetrate the underlying corrugated sheets 42. Preferably, as pointed out heretofore, the pierce point 32 does not penetrate the supporting wood surface 44 or rafters 46 since such penetration might adversely affect subsequent gripping of the nail by the wood. Immediately following the hammer blow, the punch 30 is returned to the retracted position by means of the coil spring 40, thereby withdrawing the pierce point 32 from the aperture formed in the corrugated sheets 42. The unit is then free'to be moved by the user to another position to again perforate the sheet for further nailing.

It will beunderstood, of course, that after the corrugated sheet or sheets 28 have been perforated by the pierce point 32, the usual nail may be positioned in the perforation and very conveniently, safely and easily driven home into the underlying wood without the use of excessive force or effort. Thus, there is little danger of the hammer blow causing the nail to be driven at an angle, thus tearing the corrugated sheets, or of the hammer glancing from the head of the nail and denting or otherwise damaging the sheets or striking the workmans fingers.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that in mounting corrugated sheets, it is usual to use a galvanized steel nail having a soft lead or plastic washer positioned under the nail head. Thus, upon driving the nail into position, the soft washer is compressed between the head and the underlying sheet material to form a watertight seal around the perforation through which the shank of the nail extends.

One very important feature of the present invention is the convenience with which the perforation may be properly positioned at the peak or top of the corrugations of the sheet material. Thus, the sides and valleys of the corrugations are not damaged or molested in any way, thereby assuring (1) against the ingress of water and (2) an uninterrupted flow of water along the indentations 16 during rainfall.

As will be obvious, if the sheet 42 includes corrugations or ribs of a configuration other than that shown in the drawing, the lower surface of the base 12 may be provided with orienting corrugations or ribs having the same general configuration and center to center distance as the ribs of the sheet. Or alternately, the base 12 may be adapted readily to receive interchangeable lower surface elements providing a selection of orienting corrugations corresponding to the standard corrugation shapes and sizes normally found on the market.

Also, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not to be limited to a unit having only one punch since, for increased speed or convenience, it may be desirable to provide a unit having a plurality of punches which would permit the formation of two or more perforations without having to move the punch unit.

From the above description, it will be seen that the present invention provides a punch unit which is inexpensive and simple yet rugged and long lasting and which significantly contributes to the safety and convenience of the user in applying corrugated roofing, siding, or the like. It will also be apparent that while only one embodiment has been disclosed herein, the present invention is not to be limited thereto since variations and modifications may be made readily without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention as defined by the following claims:

I claim:

1. A unit for perforating corrugated sheet material, said unit comprising:

a. a base;

b. a guide portion provided on the upper side of said base;

c. a punch disposed generally perpendicular to said upper side of said base and provided with a pierce point;

(I. said punch being supported by said guide portion for reciprocal movement relative to said base between l. a projected position wherein said point extends beyond the lower surface of said base, and 2. a retracted position;

e. means for biasing said punch toward said retracted position; and

f. means for orienting said unit relative to the corrugations of said sheet material upon placement of said unit on said material,

4.'A-unit as set forth in claim 3, wherein said punch includes means engageable with said guide portion to define the limits of said projected and retracted positions.

5. A unit as set forth in claim 2 wherein said base includes an aperture axially aligned with said punch and slidingly receiving said pierce point, said aperture intersecting one of said orienting corrugations generally centrally of its width. 

1. A unit for perforating corrugated sheet material, said unit comprising: a. a base; b. a guide portion provided on the upper side of said base; c. a punch disposed generally perpendicular to said upper side of said base and provided with a pierce point; d. said punch being supported by said guide portion for reciprocal movement relative to said base between
 1. a projected position wherein said point extends beyond the lower surface of said base, and
 2. a retracted position; e. means for biasing said punch toward said retracted position; and f. means for orienting said unit relative to the corrugations of said sheet material upon placement of said unit on said material, g. said orienting means consisting of a plurality of corrugations having substantially the same center to center distance as the corrugations of said sheet material.
 2. A unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said orienting corrugations are defined by the lower surface of said base.
 2. a retracted position; e. means for biasing said punch toward said retracted position; and f. means for orienting said unit relative to the corrugations of said sheet material upon placement of said unit on said material, g. said orienting means consisting of a plurality of corrugations having substantially the same center to center distance as the corrugations of said sheet material.
 3. A unit as set forth in claim 2, wherein said punch is slidingly supported by axially aligned apertures in said guide portion and said base.
 4. A unit as set forth in claim 3, wherein said punch includes means engageable with said guide portion to define the limits of said projected and retracted positions.
 5. A unit as set forth in claim 2 wherein said base includes an aperture axially aligned with said punch and slidingly receiving said pierce point, said aperture intersecting one of said orienting corrugations generally centrally of its width. 